Parachute flare



C. L. PAULUS PARACHUTE FLARE Dec. 13, 1932.

Filed June 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2.5 illllllllllllliii C. L. PAULUS PARACHUTE FLARE Dec. i3, 1932.

Filed June 24. 1931 2 sheets-sheet 2 /Nn/EA/ raf? CHA/$158 A P40406 Patented Dec. i3, QZ

CHARLES L. PAULUS, O F DAYTON, OHIO PARACHUTE FLARE Application led June 24,

This invention relates generally to aeronautics but more particularly to a parachute flare for use in connection with aircraft.

In conventional design of certain types of 5 parachute flares, considerable diiiiculty is encountered in providing an actuating mechanism for igniting the flare candle, the function of which will depend upon the jerk or pull on the support cable as the weight is accepted by the parachute. Normally, the 1gniting of the flare candle is accomplished by either of two conventional methods.

In one method, the primer and the booster charge are placed at the upper end of the Hare l5 candle and the ignition is transmitted through a quick match down the side of the candle for ignition of the supersensitive mixture normally located at the lower'end. The other conventional method is to locate the primer, m booster, and supersensitive mixture at the lower end of the flare candle and to provide a casing through the center of the candle through which the supporting is threaded.

Neither of the above methods are entirely satisfactory due to the fact that the ignition means becomes affected by moisture and rapidly deteriorates to such an extent that the device fails to operate properly. The employment of a central casing throughthe are candle is also somewhat of a menace since the casing or tube does not burn at the same rate as the burning composite of the candle and rops burning particles which cause ground res.

5 It is an vobject of the persent invention to Overcome the disadvantages and objectionable features enumerated above by providing a parachute iiare in which the conventional central tube is eliminated and in which those ele- 0 ments which are sensitive to moisture are located in the central portion of the mass rather than close to an outer end so that they are less likely to be deteriorated through moisture penetrating the case or envelope.

D A further object of the invention is to provide a parachute Hare in which the igniting mechanism is released for actuation by a tum-v bling motion of the fiare candle, the latter being of a design which does not permit any parts to fall to the ground and which, there- 1931. Serial No. 546,630.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 65A 2-*2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view depicting the position of he parts during the initial launching of the are;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view depict- 70 ing the linal position of the parts when the iare is completely launched; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the parachute flare showing clearly the flare-releasing mechanism.

As is apparent from the drawings, the parachute Hare is a single unit composed-of a parachute assembly and a flare candle. l

The parachute assembly includes a parachute container of paper or other appropriate material, the body portion of which consists A of a tubular case l which is adapted to be yconveniently supported in a launching tube or suitable part of an aircraft so as to be retained thereby when the Hare is released. A flanged sealing cap 2, inserted in the lower end of the case and having a frictional slip-fit connection therewith, provides a' temporary bottom for the parachute case and also a support for the separator 3, the coiled shroud lines 4, and the parachute 5. The separator 3 may be a fibre disc having the shroud lines attached circumferentially thereof and running to the parachute as illustrated in Figure 3. This disc is used to separate the parachute and its folded shroud lines from the flaresupporting cable 6, the upper end of which passes through a central aperture in the sealing cap and is attached to a central part of the disc as shown at 7.

The flare candle embodies a case 8, of paper or other appropriate ymaterial having a closed end 9 and an open end 10, the latter being of a diameter to fit snugly over the capped end of the parachute case when the two assemblies are united to form a unitary structure as illustrated in Fig. 1. Case 8 contains the illuminating material of the flare composed of the burning composite 11, the supersensitive mixture 12, the booster 13, and the percussion primer 14. As will be noted from rthe drawings, the supersensitive mixture, the booster, and the primer are grouped adjacent the parachute-case-engaging end 10 of the flare case and the illuminating material is confined in its entirety between a wood block l5 located adjacent the end 9 of the flare case and a disc y cap 16 located adjacentrthe end 10 of the case.y

The cap 16 is retained in the case by a ringlike shoulder 17 formed by pressing the sides of the case inwardly at a point adjacent the end 10 to provide an internal bead against the inner side which the cap 16 engages in both positions of the flare candle as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, respectively.

The flare is ignited by an igniting mechanism which includes the percussion primer 14 and a spring-actuated firing pin 18 closely adjacent thereto and normally held in cocked position by a trigger wire 19 located exteriorly of the Hare case cap. The firing pin has a stem 20 provided with an eye in its outer end and in the cocked position of the pin., the eye of the pin is exposed above the flare case cap 16 and one end of the trigger wire is inserted therein to hold the pin against the action of the spring 21. The other end of the trigger wire has a loop 22 encircling the supporting cable 6, which in the assembled position of the parts extends through the cut-out 23 of the flare-case end 10 and along the outside of the flare case, and through the end 9 thereof where it is attached to an eye bolt carried by the wood block 15.

When the device is assembled as shown in Fig. 1, the supersensitive mixture, booster and primer are located in the central part of the assembly where they are less likely to deteriorate through moisture leakage in the outer covering or case, which leakage usually originates in the lower or more exposed end of the flare. It will be observed, also, that the flarev candle is reversely positioned in that its actual top portionor parachute supported end is at the lower end of the assembly while the bottom end of the candle is connected with the parachute case. The telescoping portions of the parachute case and flare candle, as well as the flange of the sealing cap 2, are complementally apertured at spaced points 25 around their circumferences to receive studs 26 carried by the flexed band 27 of the flare-receiving mechanism. The band 27 consists of a strip of spring metal which is fastened to the parachute case at 28 and normally tends to assume a straight position as shown in Fig. 5. The ends of the strip are rolled to form abutments 29 which are brought closely adjacent when the strip is flexed into ring shape and these abutments are aligned with the space or notch between the legs of a. bifureated locking member 30 having a sliding movement in a supporting guide bracket 31 affixed to the parachute case 1. The locking member has attached thereto an operating cord 32 adapted to be pulled upon by the pilot or observer of the aircraft for lifting the locking member clear of the abutments, as indicated in the dotted line structure of Fig. 5, whereupon the band 27 straightens out and withdraws the studs 26 from the apertures or sockets 25, permitting the iare candle to drop by reason of its own weight.

When the flare candle falls, it pulls with it the parachute 5 and the parachute case sealing cap 2. When the parachute is clear of its case 1, the shroud lines uncoil, the parachute opens and accepts the weight of the flare 8 attached to the supporting cable 6. Due to the pull of the cable on the lower end of the candle, the latter is caused to tumble or reverse its ends as soon as the supporting cable 6 becomes taut. This tumbling movement of the flare candle causes the trigger wire 19 to be jerked out of the hole in the stem of the firing pin 18 which then drops under the action of the spring 21 and strikes the percussion primer 14. This action fires the primer 14, ignites the booster 13 and lights the sensitive mixture 12 which in turn ignites the burning composite 11. It will be noted from Fig. 4, that in the final position of the flare, the igniting means are located at the lower end and hence the flare burns from the bottom upwardly as in conventional designs. The entire assembly can be hermetically sealed, by dipping in paraiiine, without impairing or interfering with perfect functioning of the device.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides a parachute flare which is simple in construction, positive in operation, and composed of a minimum num'- ber of parts. It will be understood, however,

that the invention is not limited to the exact construction hereinset forth but embodies, also, all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

- I claim:

1. A parachute flare comprising a parachute-supported flare candle, means for launching said flare candle, means for imparting a tumbling motion to the flare candle subsequently to the launching thereof, and

means actuated by the tumbling motion of the candle for igniting the latter.

2. A parachute flare comprising a parachute case, a parachute therein, a Hare candle having one end releasably coupled to thel parachute case `and the supersensitive mixture and booster and primer at the coupled end, a supporting cable connecting the parachute with the free end of the flare candle, said cable being on the outside of the candle, means for releasing the candle from the parachute case, and igniting means for l'iring the released candle.

3. A device of the character described including a parachute case, a parachute and Shroud lines therein, a Hare candle depending from the said case with its burning end up, a supporting cable connecting the opposite Alower end of the latter with the said shroud lines and permitting the candle when free of the case to reverse its ends, a normally inactive igniting mechanism at the burning end of the case, means connected to the supporting cable for controlling the igniting mechanism, means for connecting the said flare candle and parachute case together and means for releasing said connecting means.

4. A device of the character described, including a parachute case, a parachute and shroud lines therein, a supporting cable, a separating disc to which said shroud lines and supporting cable are connected and disposed Within said case for separating the shroud lines from said supporting cable, a sealing cap removably positionedl in said receptacle, a iare candle, means at the bottom thereof for connection with said supporting cable, an igniting mechanism, means connected to said supporting cable for normally holding said igniting mechanism inactive, means for connecting said flare candle with said case, and means for releasing said connecting means.

5. A device of the character described incuding a parachute case, a parachute and shroud lines therein, a supporting cable, a separating disc to which said shroud lines and supporting cable are connected and disposed Within said case for separating the shroud lines from said supporting cable, a sealing cap removably positioned in the bottom end of said receptacle, a'are candle'depending from said bottom enel-of the case, means vat the outer end of the candle for connection with said supporting cable, the said Hare candle further including a burning composite, a booster and a supersensitive mixture, a normally inactive igniting mechanism, means connected to said supporting cable for controlling said ig'niting'mechanism, means for connecting said Hare candle with said parac'hute case andmeans for releasing said connecting means.

6. A device of the character described including a parachute case, a parachute and Vshroud lines therein, a supporting cable, a

separating disc to which said shroud lines and supporting cable are connected and disposed Within said case for separating-the shroud lines from said supporting cable, a sealing cap removably positioned in said case and providing a bottom for tlre same, a flare candle depending from said case, means at the lower end thereof for connection with said supporting cable, the said flare candle further including a burning composite, a booster and a supersensitive mixture above said burning composite, an igniting mechanism adjacent said booster and supersensitive mixture, said igniting mechanism including a ring pin, means connected to said supporting cable for retaining said irin pin `in inoperative position, means releasa ly'connecting said parachute'case and iare candle, and means for releasing said connecting means.

7. A device of the character described including a parachute case, a parachute and shroud lines therein, al supporting cable, a separating disc to which said shroud lines and supporting cable are connected and disposed within said case forseparating the shroud lines from said supporting cable, a

sealing cap removably positioned in said case, I

a flare candle, means at the bottom thereof for connection with said supporting cable, said flare candle further including a burning composite, a booster and a supersensitive mixture above said burning composite, an igniting mechanism adjacent said booster and supersensitive mixture, said igniting mechanism including a firing pin, a cover for the last mentioned receptacle, the stem of said firing pin extending through said cover, a retaining element in engagement with said stem and connected to said supporting cable, means for connecting said para-` chute case and said Hare candle together and means for releasing'said connecting means.

8. A device of the character described, includingva parachute case, a parachute and shroud lines therein, a supporting cable, a separating disc to which said shroud lines and operating cable are connected and disposed within said case for separatingthe shroud lines from said supporting cable, a sealing cap removably positioned in said case, a {iare candle including a case, means at the bottom thereof for connection with said supporting cable, said flare candle further including a burning composite, a booster and a supersensitive mixture above sald burnlng composite,

an igniting mechanism adjacent said booster and including a firing pin and supersensitive mixture, a cover for the flare candle case, the

.stem of said firing pin extending through said cover, a retaining element in engagement. with said stem and connected to said sup-.

porting cable, said flare candle case having its upper'end extending beyond its said cover to receive the lower end of the parachute case, means for securing the said cases together and for retaining said sealing cap in position, and means for releasing said 'securing means.

9. A parachute flare assembly comprising a parachute case, a flare candle having igniting means at its bottom end and releas ably connected in inverted position to the said case, a parachute Within the case and 5 having connection with the candle permitting reversal of position of the candle when released from the case, means for releasing the candle from the case, and means for igniting the candle upon its release.

10. A parachute Hare assembly comprising a parachute container, and a candle unit having the primary igniting elements Wholly concentrated at the burning end of the main burning composite and having such end connected to the container for positioning the primary igniting elements intermediate the ends of the assembly and approximated centrally thereof as a protectionagainst premature deterioration. i

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature.

CHARLES L. PAULUS. 

